Thill-coupling.



i `iTnD STATES PATENT Genion.

RICHARD ECOLES, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,955, dated August 28, 1900. Application led .Tune 15, 1900. Serial No. 20,451. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, RICHARD ECOLES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Thill-Coupling, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide certain new and useful improvements in thillcouplings whereby a shaft-shackle is produced which is simple and durable in construction, the eye being adjustable to any desired size of pivot and arranged to permit quick shifting and to prevent the eye from accidentally dropping off the pivot. y

The invention consists of novel features andparts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is an inverted perspective view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

The shaft A is bolted or otherwise-secured to the strap B of an eye C, arranged for ena gaging a pivot D on a clip E or other part of a vehicle. The pivot D is preferably provided with a flexible bushing F, of leather, rubber, or similar material, and the eye C, engaging the said bushing, is formed with a stationary eye-section C and a movable section C2, hinged at C3 to the strap B, as is plainly illustrated in the drawings. By this" arrangement the section C2 can be readily swung open to place the eye in posit-ion on the pivot D, and when this has been done the eye can be closed by swinging the section C2 into a closed position, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

In order to lock the eye-section C2 in a closed position, the following device is provided: On the eye-section C is arranged a transverse pin G, on which is mounted to swing a bolt H, extending through an elongated opening C4, formed in the eye and the eye-section G2, a lever-nut I screwing on the lower end ol' said bolt and the said nut Iscatbe engaged by the section C2 at the eye portion thereof, the other spring-arm I2 bein g ar- `ranged to engage the under side of the strap B, as is plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The spring-arm I2 is preferably formed with a concave offset 13, adapted to engage the convex surface of Ithe strap B, as is plainly shown in Fig. 3, to hold the arinl2 against movement after the offset l5 is moved in engagement with thc said strap B. From the offset I3 extends outwardly and at an angle to the strap B a loop I4 for engagement by a safety-strap connected with the shaft A in the usual manner.

It willbe seen by the arrangement described that the operator by taking hold of the arm I2 can readily screw the nut I on the bolt H until the nut seats itself on the eye-section C2, between-the eye portion thereof and the pivot C3, and by the operator further turning the arm 12 in alinement with the strap B the free end of the spring-arm I is moved in firm contact with the eye portion of the section C2 and the offset l3 is moved in engagement with the strap B, so that the nut bears at two points on the eye-section C2 and at one point on the strap B. By this arrangement the eye-section C2 can be moved in firm engagement with the pivot D and its bushing F to securely hold the shaft-shackle in position on the pivot and to prevent rattling, and at the saine time reduce the danger of the shaftshackle opening, and thereby causing disconnection of the shaft from the vehicle while the latter is in use. It is understood that as many turns can be given to the nut I as are necessary to bring the nut and its arms in the position above referred to for the purpose mentioned. Even should the nut I jar loose and make a half-turn, so as to carry the arms I 12 out of engagement with their respective parts, it is evident that the eye-section C2 cannot open suiiiciently to disconnect the eye from the pivot D. In order to open the eye section C2 sufficiently to disengage the pivot D, it is necessary to almost completely un; screw the nut I from the bolt H before it is possible to swing the section C2 far enough IOO open to move the eye out of engagement with the pivot.

I'Iaving thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a shaft-shackle having an eye formed with a hinged section, a bolt, and a nut screwing on the bolt and having spring-arms for engagement With the eye portion of the hinged section and the fixed section, as set forth.

2. In a shaft-shackle having an eye formed with a hinged section, a bolt, and a nut screwing on the bolt and engaging the hinged section7 the said nut having spring-arms extending in opposite directions, one for engaging the eye portion of the hinged section and the xed section, substantially as shown and described.

3. A shaft-shackle, comprising an eye having a movable section, a bolt pivoted on the fixed section and extending through the movable section, and a nut screwing on the bolt and adapted to be seated on said movable eye-section, and having arms extending in opposite directions, one for engagement with the eye portion of the movable section and the other for engagement with the eye-strap, as set forth.

1. A shaft-shackle, comprising an eye having a hinged section, a bolt pivoted on the xed section and extending through the movable eye-section, and a'lever-nut screwing on said bolt and having spring-arms, one for engagement with the eye portion of the eyeseotion and the other for engagement with the eye-strap, as set forth.

5. A shaft-shackle having a bolt and nut for closing the movable section of the eye, the nut having integral arms extending in opposite directions from opposite sides of the nut, one of the arms being formed with a loop at its outer end, as set forth.

6. A shaft-shackle having a bolt and nut for closing the movable section of the eye, the nut having integral arms extending in opposite directions from opposite sides of the nut, one of the arms having an offset With a concave surface for engagement With a convex portion of the shaft-shackle, as set forth.

'7. In a shaftshackle, the combination of a shaft-strap having an eye at one end, said eye having a hinged section, a bolt hinged to the strap and extending through the hinged section of the eye, and a nut on the bolt and adapted to be seated on the hinged eye-section, said nut having oppositely-projecting arms, one engaging the eye portion of the hinged section and the other the strap, the end engaging the strap being formed with a loop, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

RICHARD ECCLES. 

